Earlier this month, the Academy Awards revealed that Dave Grohl would take the stage for a “special performance” — offering no details at the time. When he did take the stage, Grohl performed a rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” during the telecast’s “In Memoriam” segment.

Grohl sat on stage with a guitar playing the tune as images of late actors, filmmakers, and other industry figures appeared on screen, including David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Leonard Nimoy.

It’s customary for the artists of the Best Original Song nominees to perform during the ceremony. Sam Smith was on hand for his Spectre theme song “Writing’s On The Wall,” as was recent Grammy winner the Weeknd, to perform his Fifty Shades of Grey song “Earned It.” Lady Gaga will also take stage for her moving song “Til It Happens to You” from the campus-rape documentary The Hunting Ground.